Cover for beach umbrellas and the like



March 11, 1969 E. DuBlNsKY 3,431,926l

COVER FOR BEACH UMBRELLAS AND THE LIKE Filec: Dec. 30, 1966 Sheetv of 2 Fig! y 2 ,f

INVENTOR. MA Nuff-L Du/Ms/(Y wwdw m ArroAeA/EYS March ll, 1969 E. DuBlNsKY 3,431,926

covER FOR BEACH UMBRELLAS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5o. 196e sheet Z of 2 I N VENTOR. MANUEL Dua/N sKY United States Patent O 3,431,926 COVER FOR BEACH UMBRELLAS AND THE LIKE Emanuel Dubinsky, 99 Kingston Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. 10701 Filed Dec. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 606,255 U.S. Cl. 135-34 Int. Cl. A45b 15/00 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to umbrellas of large size used on beaches, patios and lawns of summer homes, motels and hotels and it refers more particularly to means connecting the covers of such umbrellas to their supporting structures.

Beach and garden umbrellas now in use have covers provided with a valance clamp, which is firmly attached to each fabric end on each seam of the umbrella cover which in turn is attached to the end of the umbrella spoke. In addition, when the cover is placed on the urn- -brella frame a metal clip is placed around each spoke and then closed, catching the fabric seam which is directly above the rib. In addition, when the umbrella cover is placed on the frame a so-called metal bell is placed and mechanically and permanently secured to the top of the umbrella pole. In order to properly remove such cover, the bell, clips and valance clamps must be removed. The removal and the replacement of such covers require specially` adapted tools and skill on the part of the' user. Therefore, for the most part, the life of the umbrella for most users is determined by the life of the cover, since the umbrella frame is usable for many more years. Presently, umbrellas which are beyond practical use because of the worn condition of the cover must lbe replaced with a new umbrella or sent to a professional repair shop for recovering.

Since covers are exposed to inclement weather, they become dirty quite quickly. The washing is impractical because proper washing requires a washing machine method, requiring the removal of the cover from the frame. As already stated, it is not practical for most users to remove and reinstall this type of umbrella cover. For the individual who could remove the cover, the metal valance clamps attached to the cover would tear the cover while it is being agitated in the washing machine. The mehod of hand washing the cover while the cover remains on the frame is also not practical since it is cum bersome and unusually time consuming and the results are unsatisfactory, dirt remains in crevices of fabric and the dirt in the fringe cannot be removed.

Furthermore, a homeowner, motel or hotel sometimes wishes to change the decor of the lawn area, therefore requiring a change in color or design of the umbrellas. With the present type of umbrellas it is necessary to remove the old umbrellas and replace the umbrellas with new ones.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to provide an umbrella cover which can be easily and quickly removed and replaced by a new one, or quickly removed in order to be serviced.

ICC

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide an umbrella cover which is separate from the rest of the umbrella structure. The cover is removably connected thereto by comparatively short tubular pieces, which are approximately 15 inches long, sewn upon the inner surface of the cover and receiving the ends of the spokes of the umbrella stiucture. The tubular pieces may be separate parts or may be formed by folds provided in the cover. The tube serves the purpose formerly provided by the metal valance clamp, namely, to secure the cover to the frame structure and by the metal clip used to secure the center of the rib to the seam of the cover. Rubber or plastic caps are placed on the tips of the umbrella spokes to decrease and possibly eliminate friction and wear where the tip of a spoke meets the umbrella fabric.

The top of the umbrella cover has one seam which remains unsewed, approximately 4 inches from the top. The top has a string going through a loop or a string sewed directly onto the top of the cover enabling the closing of the top thereby finally securing the cover to the frame. This 4 inch slit enables one to install the cover in the opposite direction when compared to the method of installation used on a conventional cover. The new method of installation makes possible the use of the tubes and the use of the string makes it unnecessary to remove the top bell in order to install the cover. The removal of the cover is effected 4by pulling the lbow of string, and then pulling off the cover.

The cover of the present invention can be attached t0 the umbrella in a few minutes by unskilled help and can be removed in less than one minute simply by pulling the bow of the string and then by pulling it off the spokes. The removed cover then can be easily and successfully washed, repaired, or a new replacement cover can be easily and quickly installed. Furthermore, a single umbrella may be provided with several covers of different colors or designs, so that a hostess can select a color best suited for a specific occasion.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description When take in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side view, partly in section, of an open umbrella provided with the cover of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 shows the umbrella when folded.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a portion of an umbrella cover.

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 on a greatly enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of two portions of sheets which can be used for making umbrella covers of the present invention.

The umbrella shown in FIGS. l and 2 is essentially of the usual type and includes a post 10 and a sleeve 11,

slidable upon the post and carrying the ends of the outwardly projecting stretcher ribs 12. The sleeve 11 is held in the open position of the umbrella by the usual catch 13. Spokes 14 are connected to the top ring 15 of the post 10. The stretcher ribs 12 engage the spokes intermediate the ends of the spokes.

As shown in FIG. 3, the umbrella cover 16 may consist of several sections 17 which are sewn together along edges 18. According to one embodiment of the present invention, separate tubes 19, preferably consisting of the same material as the cover, are formed by sewing and are then sewn by stitches 20 to the inner surface of cover. Each tube 19 starts one inch below the point where the cover would fall directly on top of the point where the stretcher rib meets the spoke 13 and the tube terminates at the point of the cover which would fall directly on top of the point which is the end of the spoke 13. At that location the end piece of the tube is bent over for the closing of the tube and acting as a reinforcement for the tube. The tube replaces the conventional valance clamp and rib clip.

Preferably, an overlock stitch with three threads is used for joining the sections of the umbrella and joining the tube in one operation. Obviously, other methods can be used as well.

FIG. l indicates that the tubes 19 extend from the point where the spokes 14 meet and connect with the ribs 12 and continue down terminating at the point of the cover which would coincide with the bottom end of the spokes.

In use, the ends of the spokes are inserted into the tubes 19. Prior to inserting each spoke 14 into a tube 19, an oval plastic or rubber cap 21 is placed over the end of the spoke; its purpose is to eliminate the pressure and abrasion which would otherwise be caused by contact of the sharp bare metal end of the spoke against the fabric. The top of the cover 16 is attached by rst inserting the bottom of pole 10 through the top of the umbrella which has one seam unsewed for about four inches, thus enabling this insertion; then pulling the cover towards the top of the umbrella until the end of the spoke meets the opening of the tube. The spokes are then individually inserted into the tubes. Then the cover is pulled until each spoke meets the end of its tube. Once in that position, the top strings 22 are also in position, ready to be tied and thereby holding the umbrella cover permanently in place. The cover is put on while the frame is in a fully closed position and then in a partially open position.

To remove cover, the frame is placed in a closed position. The top ties 22 are untied. Upon release of the strings, the opening on the top is large enough due to the 4 inch unsewed seam, in order to pull oil the cover. The umbrella is then turned upside down to the position shown in FIG. 2. The cover can then be easily removed from the spokes by pulling it upwardly.

As already stated, the attaching of the cover to the umbrella frame or the removing of the cover are extremely simple, requiring no tools, requiring no special skills, and can be carried out very quickly. Thus a single beach or lawn umbrella frame can be used for a longer period of time than is now possible. The umbrella can be provided with several different covers which can be easily and properly washed, properly maintained and economically replaced.

FIG. 4 shows the use of separate tubes 18 which are made individually and then sewn in one operation to the cover. FIG. 5 illustrates a diterent arrangement wherein the tubes are made out of folded portions of the cover. In that case, two sections 24 of the cover are provided with extensions 25. The edges 26 and 27 are sewn together and this stitching is continued to join lines 28 and 29, constituting a continuation of the edges 26 and 27. Then the edges of 30 and 31 of the extensions 25 are sewn together, thereby forming the tube. The outer end of the tube is closed by the sewing. This procedure is repeated until the entire cover is completed.

It is also possible to make the umbrella cover reversible so that it can be used on either side. For that purpose, a hole y40 (FIG. 3) of about 1A inch diameter, preferably reinforced with a zigzag stitch, is provided directly on each seam 18 above the tubes 19 and not far from the location where the spokes 14 meet the ribs 12. In order to use the reverse side of the cover, the spokes 14 are inserted through the holes 40 and then into the tubes 19, so that the tubes 19 and portions of the spokes will be visible from the outside. However, this will make it possible to use covers having two diierent designs, for example, a solid color on one side and a printed floral design on the other side.

It is apparent that the examples described above have been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that they are capable of many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an umbrella having a post and spokes having inner ends connected with the post and outer ends, a separate umbrella cover having a top portion provided with an unsewed seam opening therewithin, a grommet removably attaching the top of the umbrella cover to the post, a string connected to the top of the umbrella cover for removably attaching the top of the umbrella cover to the post, said umbrella cover also provided with tubes carried by the inner surface of the cover adjacent the outer edge of the cover, cups located inside said tubes for receiving the outer ends of said spokes, said tubes consisting of separate members sewn to the inner surface of the cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,983 5/1943 Furman. 2,531,735 11/1950 Jones 135-34 2,571,634 10/1951 Von Gunten 135--34 X KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner. 

